Working with early relational trauma and borderline states of mind, with Marcus West, Ph.D.

Event Details

This talk concentrates on the detail of the effects of different forms of early relational trauma, relating this to a developed understanding of Jung’s concept of the complex and integrating many of the insights from attachment theory and contemporary trauma theory. The talk explores the way the particular traumatic events can become central to the individual’s identity and can structure the individual’s personality, and powerfully influence their ways of being with others (their internal working models). It particularly looks at how these relational complexes become manifested in the analytic relationship and deeply affect and engage the analyst, requiring, as Jung suggested, the analyst to do active work on themselves and their experience. The talk explores the particular pressures put on the therapist, and enables participants to address those, and work in a safe, effective, boundaried and ethical manner. I will give clinical examples and link these to recent intersubjective theories from relational psychoanalysis.

Marcus West is a training and supervising analyst of the Society of Analytical Psychology and UK Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Analytical Psychology. He is the author of three books: Into the Darkest Places: Early Relational Trauma and Borderline States of Mind (2016), Understanding Dreams in Clinical Practice (2011), and Feeling, Being and the Sense of Self (2007). He has taught and lectured widely in the UK and abroad, has contributed chapters to books and written a number of papers, one of which jointly won the Michael Fordham Prize in 2004. He is also a trained EMDR practitioner. He lives and works in Findon Village, Sussex, England.

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“Working with early relational trauma and borderline states of mind”
Cost: $45

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*CEU (Continuing Education Unit) – Please add the quantity of “1” if you wish to receive CEUs for this program. CEUs are $10 per program.
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Learning Objectives:By completion of this course participants will be able to:

Identify and enumerate narcissistic dynamics in themselves and others

Explain the links between these dynamics and infant forms of functioning and behaviour

Discuss how infants defend against narcissistic wounding

Summarise how this is related to primitive mammalian defences and Porges’ polyvagal theory

Assess and enumerate how this relates to particular clients and recognize some of the likely clinical challenges and ways of addressing them

Describe how this relates to the process of individuation through analysis, whereby the analyst facilitates, for example, the individual’s ability to bear and integrate previously split off parts of the personality and lessens their defensive control and evacuation of unbearable affects

Explain how this allows a lessening of the conscious control by the ego and a greater reliance on the unconscious functioning of the Self

Recognise and describe how this applies in the consulting room with work with clients

Discuss some of the many manifestations of narcissistic behaviour, both culturally and in the socio-political field

Explain and expand their understanding of, and capacity to engage with, individuals who have experienced early relational trauma

Recognise and explain how this has become embodied in the individual’s personality, relating this to psychoanalytic categories such as narcissistic, borderline, schizoid, hysterical and obsessional personality organisations.

Recommended reading:

West, M. (2013). Trauma and the transference-countertransference: working with the bad object and the wounded self. The Journal of Analytical Psychology, 58, 73-89.

West, M. (2016). Into the Darkest Places: Early Relational Trauma and Borderline States of Mind. London & New York: Karnac.

CE credits awarded upon attendance in its entirety. The C.G. Jung Institute-Boston is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The C.G. Jung Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content. For questions and requests for information, please contact psychology CE Chair, Dr. Francine Lorimer at 617 818 5587 or francine.lorimer@hotmail.com. For cancellation policy and registration, please visit the C.G. Jung Institute-Boston website,at cgjungboston.com. There is no known commercial support for this program.